Man accused of robbing bank posted video on social media

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A man arrested for robbing a bank posted a photo and videos of the theft on social media — but said he shouldn’t have been charged because he didn’t threaten anyone and politely asked for the money.

Dominyk Antonio Alfonseca, 23, was arrested on Monday in Virginia Beach about 20 minutes after a TowneBank branch was robbed.

Alfonseca told media outlets in interviews from jail Wednesday that he posted a photo of the note he handed to a bank teller, and two videos of her reading it and handing over the money, to Instagram. They still appeared on his account Wednesday night. He didn’t say why he posted them, but said if it had been a real robbery, he never would have done so.

“I videotaped it. If it was a robbery, I don’t think I would videotape it, post the picture of the letter and do that all to come to jail,” he told WAVY-TV. “I’m basically asking permission for money. In my eyes I did not commit a robbery, and I feel I’m being charged without reason.”

A photo posted to Alfonseca’s Instagram account shows a handwritten note in which the writer remarks that it would probably take three or four minutes for police to arrive, so “I would appreciate it if you ring the alarm a minute after I’m gone.” It also says to “make sure the money doesn’t blow up” on his way out. The videos show a bank teller reading the note and putting money into a bag.

Online court records did not show whether Alfonseca had an attorney. He told the television station he recently moved to the area from California and that he is a rapper.

Alfonseca was quoted by the Virginian-Pilot as saying that he has been the victim of theft, with businesses and artists stealing ideas from his Instagram account.

He told the newspaper it’s as if there’s a chip in his brain that tells people what he thinks before he says it.